In Poland, it's no longer okay to joke about gays

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Global Post

In Poland, it's no longer okay to joke about gays
Gay rights have quickly become mainstream in conservative Poland.
Jan Cienski
March 13, 2011 07:52

WARSAW, Poland — A few years ago, Robert Wegrzyn's off-color joke about gays and lesbians would just have gotten a grin. Now it might cost the Polish member of parliament his job. The shift is a sign of changing mores in what is still arguably one of the European Union's most anti-gay countries.

In an aside to a TV reporter during a parliamentary debate recently about whether to allow civil partnerships, Wegrzyn said: “We can forget about gay men, but I would gladly watch lesbians.”

A media storm erupted, and a befuddled Wegrzyn quickly tried to make amends by issuing an abject apology. “I am very sorry that my joke … was not taken as only a joke. I am sorry if anyone was offended, because it could have been taken as sexist, which really was not my intention,” he said, before going on to say that he was still adamantly opposed to allowing civil unions for gay couples.

His apologies did not mollify the authorities of the ruling Civic Platform party, with Tomasz Tomczykiewicz, the party's parliamentary leader, calling his comment “stupid,” while local officials will decide whether to throw Wegrzyn out of the party.



Read more: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/poland/110225/poland-gay-rights

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[Cirque du So-What]

2. How about Polish jokes? Can they land you in jail in Poland now?

j/k

My personal philosophy toward 'freedom of speech' has gone through some changes over the years. My definition of 'protected speech' has grown more narrow, as I believe it's wrong to just say any old fucking thing that pops into your head - especially if you happen to be an elected official standing in front of a microphone. There must be repercussions!

[speltwon]

5. the issue with free speech is never "is it wrong"?

the issue is should the govt. be allowed to punish you for it. Free speech doesn't imply you are "right" to say X. It implies govt. cannot penalize you for it. Our nation has much greater protections in this regards than most any european nation. We can use hate speech, vilify religion, make racially discriminatory speech, all of which have been criminalized in other nations.

[Puregonzo1188]

8. No one's going to jail. It's an article about changing social attitudes towards homophobia.

[speltwon]

9. I'm aware of that

I'm just making the distinction in regards to FREE SPEECH which is an issue of law, locus of control and freedom, NOT propriety which is what "bad" speech is talking about

[yardwork]

7. He's not in danger of being thrown in jail. There's no law against what he said in Poland.

His career as a politician is in trouble because of what he said, but there's no law against it. It's the same as if a prominent politician made a racist joke.

[DCKit]

3. I'm a walking, living gay Polish joke (and freakin cute for nearly 50).....

OMG, I'm gonna get rich off this.

[pipoman]

4. My 20 year old sons

didn't know what a 'pollock' was...when we were young there was nobody that hadn't heard jokes or didn't know what that slur meant. Time changes popular culture.

[Brickbat]

6. Excellent.

[bigwillq]

10. K and R (nt)